Rabies Vaccination

I am going to be in Ghana for approximately 6 months starting in September 2008. I have had every other vaccination except the rabies vaccination since the cost is almost 600 dollars. I was wondering how necessary it is to get this vaccination for those who have travelled to the country or Africa in general. I am staying mainly in Agogo which is east of Kumasi. However, I do plan on doing a lot of travelling within the country. Any insight would be greatly appreciated! Thanks. Reply to this

The first crude rabies vaccine, developed over 100 years ago in 1885 by Louis Pasteur and colleagues, was produced by administering a series of injections containing increasingly virulent rabies-virus infected nerve tissue. These first nerve-tissue vaccines contained variable amounts of residual live virus and as a result, vaccine-induced rabies occasionally occurred in patients that were undergoing treatment. will also you can get.

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And even if you do get bitten the chances of getting rabbies is small. Reply to this

Hi Laura. I thought I would reply to try to give you some accurate information since the above is not very.(to get the true information on rabies go to the WHO site- you should do this to check that what I say is correct.)
-Rabies is not common -but so are many of the other diseases like yellow fever.
-Rabies is 100% fatal. The exact figures are argued but only about 5 people in history may have had a partial or complete recovery.
-Rabies kills about 50,000 people per year about 30000 of which are in South East Asia (mainly India ,Thailand , Vietnam)(approximate numbers)Most of the rest are in Africa.
-WHO recommends Vaccination if spending time working with animals or extended time in a rural area or area where access to vaccination is difficult.
- There is currently a worldwide shortage of vaccine - good luck trying to find some in Ghana.
- The problem with vaccination after a bite is a. obtaining vaccine that is not spoiled- Rabies vaccine should be kept within the cold chain ie refrigerated within very accurate temperatures and never outside.b time is of the essence ie best within a day.c most importantly- there must an injection of Rabies immunoglobin into the bite site as well. This is very hard or impossible to obtain. ( I am an an Australian Doctor in East Timor working for Australian Army and we find it very difficult to get even from Australia!)

- A PRE exposure vaccination is a series of 3 injections- if there is a bite after this no immunoglobin is needed- just 3 injections.

I have backpacked in Ghana- and 35 other African countries- there are not many fridges or rabies vaccine or immunoglobin there.
I have also been in the situation of having to urgently obtain rabies vaccine in the Amazonian jungle for a patient bitten by a bat.This was extremely difficult in Brazil where the public health system is about 1000 times better than Ghana.
- Rabies pre exposure vaccination means that there is no need to hurry for post exposure needles,means that no immunoglobin is necessary(we gave a patient here 10mls of immunoglobin in his lip!- I would pay $6000 to avoid the pain he experienced.)-No patient has even got rabies after correct pre and post immunization.
- I think that rabies vaccines can be obtained for about $300 in some places.

Sorry to go on but you must make a decision based on facts not rumours.
Have agreat trip- I should be in Ghana late April next year-it is fantastic especially the cape coast and castles.
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